A. No political subdivision may regulate the use of a privately owned, unmanned aircraft system as defined in § 19.2-60.1 within its boundaries.
B. Notwithstanding the prohibition of subsection A, a political subdivision may, by ordinance or regulation, regulate the take-off and landing of an unmanned aircraft, as defined in § 19.2-60.1, on property owned by the political subdivision. Such ordinance or regulation shall be developed and authorized in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Department of Aviation (the Department). Such rules and regulations shall be in accordance with federal rules and regulations and shall include a process for adoption of an ordinance or regulation, exemptions to the ordinance or regulation, political subdivision training, and notification requirements. The political subdivision shall report to the Department any ordinance or regulation adopted pursuant to this section, and the Department shall publish and update annually on its website, and any other website the Department deems appropriate, a summary of any such ordinance or regulation adopted.
C. Nothing in this section shall permit a person to go or enter upon land owned by a political subdivision solely because he is in possession of an unmanned aircraft system if he would not otherwise be permitted entry upon such land.
D. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit (i) the take-off or landing of an unmanned aircraft by a commercial operator in compliance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations, or as deemed reasonable or necessary by private or public entities for emergency or maintenance support functions or services, including the protection and maintenance of public or private critical infrastructure; (ii) the landing of an unmanned aircraft by an operator in compliance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations as deemed reasonable or necessary by the operator in the event of a technical malfunction of an unmanned aircraft system; (iii) the take-off or landing of an unmanned aircraft being operated by a sworn public safety officer in the performance of his duties; or (iv) the take-off or landing of an unmanned aircraft owned or operated by the United States government, or any operator under contract with any agency of the United States government, in performance of his assigned duties.
2016, c. 451; 2018, cc. 851, 852; 2020, c. 345.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns
Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments
§ 15.2-900. Abatement or removal of nuisances by localities; recovery of costs
§ 15.2-901.1. Locality may provide for control of running bamboo; civil penalty
§ 15.2-902. Authority of locality to control certain noxious weeds
§ 15.2-906. Authority to require removal, repair, etc., of buildings and other structures
§ 15.2-910. Ordinance certifying boiler and pressure vessel operators; penalty
§ 15.2-911. Regulation of alarm company operators
§ 15.2-912. Regulation of tattoo parlors and body-piercing salons; definition; exception
§ 15.2-912.1. Regulation of martial arts instruction
§ 15.2-912.2. Proceeds exempt from local taxation
§ 15.2-912.3. Regulation of dance halls by counties, cities, and towns
§ 15.2-913. Ordinances regulating certain vendors
§ 15.2-914. Regulation of child-care services and facilities in cities and certain counties
§ 15.2-915. Control of firearms; applicability to authorities and local governmental agencies
§ 15.2-915.2. Regulation of transportation of a loaded rifle or shotgun
§ 15.2-915.4. Counties, cities and towns authorized to regulate use of pneumatic guns
§ 15.2-915.5. Disposition of firearms acquired by localities
§ 15.2-917. Applicability of local noise ordinances to certain sport shooting ranges
§ 15.2-918. Locality may prohibit or regulate use of air cannons
§ 15.2-920. Regulation of outdoor lighting near certain facilities
§ 15.2-921. Ordinances requiring fencing of swimming pools
§ 15.2-922. Smoke alarms in certain buildings
§ 15.2-922.1. Regulating or prohibiting the making of fires
§ 15.2-922.2. Special fee for emergency services in certain counties
§ 15.2-923. Local water-saving ordinances
§ 15.2-924. Water supply emergency ordinances
§ 15.2-925.1. Local notifications
§ 15.2-926. Prohibiting loitering; frequenting amusements and curfew for minors; penalty
§ 15.2-926.1. Bounties for coyotes
§ 15.2-926.2. Adoption of ordinances prohibiting obscenity
§ 15.2-926.3. Local regulation of certain aircraft
§ 15.2-926.4. Regulation of smoking in outdoor amphitheater or concert venue; civil penalty
§ 15.2-927. Garbage and refuse disposal
§ 15.2-928. Local recycling and waste disposal; powers; penalties
§ 15.2-929. Solid waste management facility siting approval
§ 15.2-934. Displacement of private waste companies
§ 15.2-935. Authority to prohibit placement of leaves or grass clippings in landfills
§ 15.2-936. Garbage and refuse disposal; fee exemption
§ 15.2-937. Separation of solid waste
§ 15.2-938. Preference for purchase of recycled paper and paper products
§ 15.2-939. Ordinances requiring recycling reports
§ 15.2-940. Expenditures for promoting resources and advantages of locality
§ 15.2-941. Participation by local government in certain loan programs
§ 15.2-941.1. Creation of abandoned school revitalization zones
§ 15.2-942. Local government participation in certain events
§ 15.2-943. Operation and maintenance of living historical farm museums
§ 15.2-943.1. Creation of arts and cultural districts
§ 15.2-944. Authority to acquire and preserve places and things of historical interest
§ 15.2-944.1. Notification prior to sale or transfer of ownership of certain historic properties
§ 15.2-945. Acquisition and housing of relics, paintings, carvings, sculpture and other works of art
§ 15.2-946. Regulation of tour guides and tourist guides
§ 15.2-947. Systems of public transportation for certain counties or cities
§ 15.2-948. Locality may designate continuing source of revenue for mass transit
§ 15.2-949. Shared ride taxi systems, etc.; nonprofit vanpools
§ 15.2-951. Acquisition, disposition and use of personal property by localities generally
§ 15.2-952. Political subdivisions may acquire property from United States
§ 15.2-954. Loans to volunteer firefighting and rescue organizations
§ 15.2-956. Participation in certain federal development programs
§ 15.2-957. Participation by localities in certain leasing programs
§ 15.2-958.1. Sale of certain property in certain cities
§ 15.2-958.2. Grants for homeownership; workforce housing
§ 15.2-958.2:01. Grants for certain corporations and pass-through entities
§ 15.2-958.3. Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing programs
§ 15.2-958.3:1. Local green banks
§ 15.2-958.4. Waiver of certain fees for affordable housing
§ 15.2-958.5. Local funding for community revitalization
§ 15.2-958.6. Financing the repair of failed septic systems
§ 15.2-960. Planting of trees destroyed during construction
§ 15.2-961. Replacement of trees during development process in certain localities
§ 15.2-961.2. Conservation of trees; notice of infill lot grading plan
§ 15.2-961.3. Replacement of trees during development process in localities
§ 15.2-962. Authority to require a unified geographic information system for a locality
§ 15.2-963. Local offices of consumer affairs; establishment; powers and duties
§ 15.2-965. Human rights ordinances and commissions
§ 15.2-965.1. Participation of small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses
§ 15.2-965.2. Enhancement of micro-business participation in local procurement
§ 15.2-966. Establishment and operation of educational television stations
§ 15.2-966.1. Establishment of primary health care facility for employees of locality
§ 15.2-967. Parking facilities
§ 15.2-967.1. Regulation of certain transportation services
§ 15.2-967.2. Electric vehicle charging stations
§ 15.2-968. Regulation of parking of vehicles within boundaries of state-supported institutions
§ 15.2-968.01. Parking in certain residential areas
§ 15.2-968.1. Use of photo-monitoring systems to enforce traffic light signals
§ 15.2-969. Ordinances prohibiting resale of tickets to certain public events; penalty
§ 15.2-970. Construction of dams, levees, seawalls, etc.; certain proceedings prohibited
§ 15.2-971. Armories and markets; assistance to National Guard
§ 15.2-972. Appropriations for the upkeep of certain cemeteries
§ 15.2-973. Ordinances imposing license taxes on owners of certain motor vehicles
§ 15.2-974. Permits for display of fireworks; use and exhibitions
§ 15.2-975. Use of cash proffers
§ 15.2-977. Green Roof Incentive Programs
§ 15.2-979. Notice of sale under deed of trust
§ 15.2-980. Civil penalties for violations of noise ordinances
§ 15.2-981. Authority to sell dogs trained for police work
§ 15.2-982. Designation of tourism activity zones
§ 15.2-983. Creation of registry for short-term rental of property
§ 15.2-984. Adoption of flood plain ordinances
§ 15.2-985. Disposition of abandoned shopping carts; unauthorized possession; penalties